Race Place

Actually, in the last year, it’s had more than 20 good runs. And 2013 could bring even more.

Thanks in large part to its scenery and its preponderance of walkable trails, Westerville has attracted a great many 5K runs – as well as 10Ks, fun walks and all manner of other races. From First on the First on Jan. 1 to the Holiday Run on Dec. 9, organizations are bringing feet to Westerville.

“There are a lot of events that are benefit-related,” says Mike Herron, fitness and wellness manager for the city. “There’s at least one … 5K, whether it’s competition based or benefit-based, each month.”

Westerville is a runner-friendly community, Herron says, and that’s attractive to organizations. That’s made especially clear by its abundance of trails; it’s possible to put most or all of a race on the city’s trails, and that means no street closures, which can be a hassle for motorists and an expense for race organizers.

That’s one of the reasons why so many organizations come to the Columbus Running Company seeking to hold walk or run events in Westerville, says Jim Jurcevich, co-owner of the Westerville-based company.

The city has “plenty of bike paths, and … a few nice parks that are big enough that you can host races there,” Jurcevich says.

The company coordinates a number of local races throughout the year; in 2012, these included the Party at the Creek 5K, the St. Paul Parish Memorial 5K, the Running Water 5K, the Celebrity Ghosts 5K, the Rotary Honors Veterans 5K, the Game Day 5K and the Rudolph Run. It will be adding some new ones in 2013, including the Stingray 5K in March.

Herron is heading up the city’s new Live W.E.L.L. (Wellness, Education, Leisure and Lifestyle) Westerville, a community-based initiative that provides health-related resources for individuals who live and work in the city. It has been in operation for a few months, most notably coordinating an eight-week series of walks in city parks called Healthy Lifestyles: A Walk in the Park.

The group contains leaders from such local organizations as the city of Westerville, Westerville City Schools, Otterbein University and local health partners.

Live W.E.L.L. is working to put together a list of 5Ks taking place within Westerville’s borders, but that’s just a small part of its overall mission. It has six dimensions: physical activity, nutrition, education, screenings, mental health and safety.

5Ks are good workouts in their own right, and they allow those looking to get in better shape to establish a baseline – a race time they can seek to beat when the next race rolls around.

“There are a lot of people who would not be able to come away from a race earning prizes,” says Herron. “There’s … got to be an internal motivation to beat your previous time.”

And the specter of an upcoming race is often a motivating factor to get and stay in good shape.

“Knowing you have an event coming up helps you get out the door on a regular basis,” says Jurcevich.

Getting ready to run a 5K might seem like an intimidating task, but almost anyone can do it – 5 kilometers translates to about 3.1 miles.

It’s important to note that walking a 5K or similar race is almost always an option, so individuals not inclined to run need not sit out.

“A lot of people may shy away from doing a 5K because they may not be able to run a 5K,” Herron says.

There is a large number of training programs out there – including those of the “couch-to-5K” variety. “The biggest thing starting out is listening to your body and taking time getting into it,” says Jurcevich.

A lot of people want to make progress more quickly than their bodies will allow, and that’s a no-no; it’s important to give the body time to recover.

Jurcevich and his colleagues recommend a “conversational” pace – if you can’t run and talk at the same time, you’re going too fast and are more likely to run out of breath or start feeling pain in your sides.

The Westerville Parks and Recreation Department is considering putting together a program to help residents prepare for 5Ks and similar athletic events.

The Columbus Running Company has two preparation programs. One is the Cbus Pacers, a group that gets together for weekday runs.

The other is Starting Line, which is geared toward preparation for longer races such as 26.2-mile marathons and 13.1-mile half-marathons.